Maestro is overseeing the preparation of the activities of the city government that will be included in this year’s celebration. His counterpart at the Provincial Capitol, Provincial Tourism Officer Alphonsus Tesoro is also coordinating the activities that will be part of the provincial government’s participation in the whole event.

Sinadya sa Halaran, Capiz’s premier festival, is a fusion of Sinadya, the city’s fiesta in honor of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and the province’s Halaran.

Maestro said new activities have been lined up for this year’s edition of the festival whose festivities will start as early as Dec. 3 and wind up Dec. 9.

A wedding festival to be held at the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral and prepared by the city government will kick off the festivities on Dec. 3, alongside the blessing and inauguration of new facilities at the Villareal Stadium – kiddie swimming pool, pavilion and rubberized track oval.

The provincial government will organize a tree planting at the training center at Barangay Nagba in Cuartero town on Dec. 5, the formal starting day of the festival. Other new activities that are also lined for the day are the Division Capiz Hymn Choral Contest, launching of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) project, cultural showcase and musical concert.

On Dec. 6, the provincial government will have the Gov. Victor Taco Cup swimming competition, while the Capiz Arts Council will present a dance drama dubbed “PANAY” to be followed by another musical concert.

The Gov. Victor Taco, Sr. Cup shooting competition, banca race, daigon sa plaza and band concert are scheduled on Dec. 7. On Dec. 8, which is also the city fiesta day, a fashion show, “PASEO CAPICEñO: Unveiling of Capiz Culture & Traditions Through Costumes and a lantern contest, will be held in the evening as one of the culminating activities, together with first Sinadya sa Halaran badminton tournament on Dec. 9. National dignitaries are expected to grace the occasion.

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Roxas City — City agricultural authorities are coordinating efforts with various concerned government agencies to examine a flush (colony) of unknown species of “giant mushrooms” which has been discovered by a resident of Arnaldo Boulevard at Barangay Baybay here recently.

The examination is aimed to determine if the newly found mushroom is edible and capable of artificial propagation.

The flush or colony of giant mushroom has a cap of about 12 inches crops up in vacant lot covered with thick cogon grass and banana plant in Roxas City, Capiz. (Photo courtesy of cable TV program Budyong Kapehan and Rexam Laguda)

Initial coordination has already been conducted with the Capiz State University (CapSu), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Science and Technology for the identification of the rare mushroom specie.

“The stipe of the mushroom is more or less two inches in diameter and more than 30 times bigger than the normal size of a mushroom stipe usually found in the backyard or farms,” said Roxas City Agriculture Office Chief Salvador Borda.

Borda hinted that the “giant mushrooms” is the banana mushroom variety because such type of mushrooms is usually found beneath banana plants. Commonly, banana mushroom belongs to volvariella volvacea specie.

“The mushroom spores were probably already there,” added Borda. “Its growth was aided by the compost materials around its habitat and by the cold and rainy weather in the area”.

During a local cable television program presentation, TV host Rexam Laguda said one of the “giant mushrooms” weighed nearly two kilograms and measured almost one foot and 10 inches from the tip of its roots to its cap.

The “giant mushroom” flush with varied sizes has been growing for two years on a vacant lot covered with thick cogon grass and banana plant. The flush crops up on a substrate of moist grasses and leaves. (PIA/with reports from Rexam Laguda)

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